CUEFA : Media Releases

For the second year in a row Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty vote no confidence in University President Tim Loreman

Media Release: May 24, 2023, 4:00pm

The faculty at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) have again voted that they have no confidence in the university’s president. The Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association (CUEFA), the organization that represents full-time academic staff, held a confidence vote on May 3, 2023. A majority of CUEFA members registered to vote, with 89.4% voting no confidence in the president’s leadership. This is the second time that the Concordia faculty have voted no-confidence in President Loreman since a January 2022 strike at the university.

Faculty members cited multiple reasons for voting this way. Chief among these were the dysfunctional workplace culture fostered under the president’s leadership, his failure to cover the costs of new buildings, and his inability to protect and uphold the core mandate of the university.

These reasons are similar to those voiced by faculty members in February 2022 when they voted no-confidence in the president. The reasons faculty listed at that time for voting no-confidence in President Loreman were a toxic workplace culture, the failure to effectively manage the core operations of the university, financial mismanagement of the institution, and damage done to relations between CUE and key stakeholders across Edmonton and Alberta. After that vote, the President announced he was working to repair relations with Concordia faculty and employees. The results of this recent vote make clear that work has not succeeded.

In early January 2022, CUEFA members participated in the first university faculty association strike in Alberta’s history, resulting in important gains for the faculty. Unfortunately, the strike did not address the ongoing problems of leadership and workplace dysfunction.

For more information please contact Glynis Price, President of CUEFA at cueassociation@gmail.com

Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association votes no confidence in the University President Tim Loreman

Media Release: February 22, 2022, 7:00pm

Faculty at Concordia University of Edmonton (CUE) voted that they have no confidence in the University's President. The Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association (CUEFA), the organization that represents full-time academic staff, held a confidence vote on February 11, 2022. 91% of CUEFA members registered to vote, 90% voted no confidence in the President's leadership.

CUEFA members cited four main areas of concern: a toxic workplace culture under President Loreman's leadership, the President's failure to effectively manage the core operations of the university, the financial mismanagement of the institution, and the damage done to relations between CUE and key stakeholders across Edmonton and Alberta.

CUEFA notified the Chair of CUE's Board of Governors, John Acheson, about the no confidence vote on February 14, requesting that the board give CUEFA a formal reply by February 22. As of the requested deadline, the Board has provided no response to CUEFA about the vote.

In early January 2022, CUEFA members participated in the first faculty association strike in Alberta's history, resulting in important gains for the faculty. However, the strike did not address ongoing problems of leadership.

For more information please contact Glynis Price, Acting President of CUEFA at cueassociation@gmail.com

Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association Makes History and Looks to the Future

Media Release: January 15, 2022, 2:00pm

(Edmonton, January 15)—The Concordia University of Edmonton Faculty Association (CUEFA) today ratified the tentative agreement it reached with university administration, ending a landmark strike in Alberta's union history. The agreement opens the door for classes to start on Wednesday January 19th, 2022. An official announcement is expected to follow from CUE administration. 89% of the membership (73 of 82 members) voted in favour of ratification. "This new agreement is a win for faculty, students and the community because it will enable the University to recruit and retain excellent faculty and lays the foundation for a stronger learning environment," said CUEFA President, Glynis Price. "Collective action is what made it possible, and CUEFA is grateful to the students, parents, other associations and allies across Canada who rallied in support of this strike."

CUEFA members went on strike on January 4, making history as the first Alberta faculty association to take job action. They were joined on the picket line by dozens of students, community allies and members from other faculty associations. Over 1350 individuals and organizations from across Canada sent messages to the university administration to put the interests of 'students and staff before profit," and a student-run petition gained more than 500 signatories supporting the faculty.

As CUE marks its hundredth anniversary, CUEFA asserts this Collective Agreement looks to the future. "Our vision for the future is a respectful and accountable workplace, a vibrant centre of learning," said Price. "We are proud that the placards on the picket line read 'We are all CUE' because each and every one of us is part of the community, and we will keep working hard so that our sessional colleagues and non-academic staff also realize better working conditions."

Salary gains will begin the process of bringing CUE faculty and academic service officers into line with other institutions; CUE faculty salaries rank 68 th of 70 Canadian universities. This new agreement also improves working conditions for CUEFA members by moving towards manageable workloads for professors, laboratory instructors, librarians, and field placement coordinators. The agreement also restores job security to members and preserves their ownership of their intellectual property.

CUEFA represents the interests of all probationary and permanent faculty members, professional librarians, laboratory instructors, and field placement coordinators.

For more information, please contact: Glynis Price, cueassociation@gmail.com

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